Coastal Alabama's favorite NFL team is the one west on I-10 -- the New Orleans Saints. But for former Vigor High School standout Jalston Fowler, it was the Saints' biggest rival -- the Atlanta Falcons -- who had his childhood devotion while growing up in Prichard.

That's why it was an extra thrill for Fowler when the Falcons signed him on Monday.

"I was one of the only kids in my neighborhood that liked the Falcons," Fowler told D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "It was a big, big excitement for me. I love the Falcons. ... I've been watching them ever since I was a kid. I used to imitate Jamal Anderson when he did the Dirty Bird dance."

But to stay with the Falcons for more than the next eight days, Fowler will have to overtake Ricky Ortiz for Atlanta's fullback spot. Atlanta signed Fowler as it released fullback Luke McNitt (who was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Vikings).

"The fullback spot for us, Rick's clearly in the lead for that," Falcons coach Dan Quinn said, "but Fowler was somebody that we definitely have interest in. The fact that he was healthy, he was able to come and run and do it, so we're glad that he's here and look forward to taking a good look at him here in practice and in this weekend's game, too. Really in the next two games."

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Ortiz is ahead of Fowler in experience with the Falcons, but not in the NFL. Ortiz joined the Falcons in May after spending part of last season, his first in the NFL, on the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad.

A fourth-round draft choice from Alabama in 2015, Fowler played in 42 games for the Tennessee Titans, with eight starts, over three seasons. Fowler had 20 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries and 58 yards and one TD on six receptions with Tennessee.

The Titans released Fowler on Dec. 9, and he finished the 2017 season on the Seattle Seahawks' practice squad.

Earning the fullback slot on the Falcons' regular-season roster might depend on a special-teams revival for Fowler. As a rookie, he was on the field for 273 special-teams plays, but that dropped to 85 in 2016 and only one last season.

"We saw what he could do," Quinn said before Wednesday's practice of Fowler's work with Tennessee. "We didn't get a chance to see him a lot on special teams, so (special-teams coordinator) Keith (Armstrong) will certainly take a good look at him as well. He's one of the guys who could play one of the linebacker spots (on special teams) -- linebacker, fullback, tight end. He's a big enough guy, he could match up on tight ends and big linebackers, too. So a good enthusiastic guy and he's off to a good start yesterday."

Seattle released Fowler on Aug. 12 after he'd been on and off the field at the Seahawks' training camp and missed the first preseason game because of a hamstring problem.

"Things were going pretty good until I started having hamstring problems," Fowler said of his stay in Seattle. "In the spring, I hurt my left hamstring, and I was out for a while. Then I came back in the beginning of training camp and I hurt my right hamstring. I had to fight with those."

The Falcons visit the Jacksonville Jaguars at 6 p.m. CDT Saturday for their third preseason game. WBRC, WPMI, WTVY (4.2), WSFA, WDFX and WAFF will televise the game in Alabama.

Atlanta will complete its preseason schedule on Aug. 30 against the Miami Dolphins. After that, the Falcons will have to reduce their 90-player preseason roster to 53 for the regular season.

Fowler is eager to show how he can help the Falcons' running game as a blocking back.

"I can get in there, dig them out and blow them up," Fowler said. "They can run right behind me. Just put my head down, shoulder pads down and get the yardage that we need."

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @AMarkG1.